Selective color striking of color-strikable articles

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for and method of color-striking a color-strikable article. The method includes the steps of: conveying a color-strikable article within a proximity of an energizer, and selectively color-striking said article with said energizer to produce a predetermined pattern on the article.

The present disclosure is directed to manufacturing color-strikablearticles and, more specifically, to color striking color-sinkablearticles.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Glass may be heated for a variety of purposes. For example, in someinstances, heating a glass article may alter its color. U.S. Pat. No.3,627,548 discloses a process for making a dark amber glass article. Theprocess includes a step of adding a sufficient amount of copper oxide toan amber base glass containing iron and sulfur as the ambercolor-producing ingredients, and a step of reacting the copper with thesulfur in the amber base glass at an elevated temperature and for aperiod of time to thereby produce a dark coloration in the glass. Thepatent further discloses various characteristics of the ingredients andother materials.

A general object of the present disclosure, in accordance with oneaspect of the disclosure, is to provide an apparatus for selectivelystriking color patterns in glass, composites, and ceramics.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can beimplemented separately from or in combination with each other.

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided anapparatus for striking color in color-sinkable articles which includes aconveyor for presenting the articles in sequence, and an energizerpositioned adjacent to the conveyor for direct selective energizing ofthe articles to strike at least one color therein as the articles arepresented by the conveyor.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided amethod of color-striking a color-strikable article that includes thesteps of conveying a color-strikable article within a proximity of anenergizer, and selectively color-striking the article with the energizerto produce a predetermined pattern on the article.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided amethod of color-striking a color-strikable article that includes thesteps of conveying a color-strikable article within a proximity of aheater having at least one gas flame port, and selectivelycolor-striking the article with the heater to produce a predetermined,pattern on the article, wherein the heater is not located in a lehr.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantagesand aspects thereof, will be best understood from the followingdescription, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of an energizing system including a conveyorand an energizer for color-strikable articles in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is another view of the schematic diagram of FIG. 1 including amasking locator;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the schematic diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the energizer of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mask for the articles of FIGS. 1, 2,and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure relates to color-striking a color-strikablearticle 16 (e.g., composed of glass, composite, and/or ceramicmaterial). An energizer 14 may be positioned adjacent to a conveyor orconveyor assembly 12 for selectively striking color in, for example,articles 16, as they are conveyed sequentially in proximity of theenergizer 14. In one implementation, a mask 52 may be used to direct orlocalize energy onto each article 16. And in at least oneimplementation, the articles 16 may be produced in accordance withillustrative embodiments of a glass manufacturing process disclosedherein below.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an illustrative embodiment of an apparatus or system10 is shown. The system 10 may treat any article composed of anymaterial; for the purposes of illustration, color-sinkable articles 16are shown. The system 10 includes the conveyor 12 and the energizer 14.

The conveyor 12 may be any mechanism for conveying or moving multiplearticles 16. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate thevarious conveyor parts and components which may be used, as well as thevarious manner of their use and application; FIG. 1 illustrates merelyone implementation. The conveyor 12 shown includes a first conveyorportion 20 in communication with a second (rotary) conveyor portion orturret 22. FIG. 1 shows a generally linear portion of the first conveyorportion 20 having a conveying surface 24 and the second conveyor portion22 is illustrated as generally circular. The second conveyor portion 22may be configured to receive articles 16 from the first conveyor portion20, perform a color striking operation, and then redeliver or dischargethe articles 16 to the first conveyor portion 20.

The second conveyor portion 22 may include a rotatable lower member 26axially spaced below a rotatable star wheel 28 e.g., along an axis A.The periphery of the lower member 26 may have multiple article stagingplatforms or footprints 30 spaced from one another at an arcuatedistance S. In the illustrated implementation, eight platforms 30 areshown. In some implementations, the staging platforms 30 may beindependently rotatable. The staging platforms 30 may be generallycoplanar with the conveying surface 24 of the first conveyor portion 20to enable a smooth conveyance of the articles 16 between the first andsecond conveyor portions 20, 22. The circumference of the star wheel 28may include an alternating series of radially outwardly extendingflanges 32 and radially inwardly extending notches 34, each notch beingspaced at an approximate arcuate distance S. In the illustratedimplementation of FIGS. 1 and 2, eight flanges 32 and eight notches 34are shown. Further, the eight illustrated staging platforms 30 of thelower member 26 are oriented to angularly coincide with the eightcircumferentially located notches 34 so that each notch may cradle oneof the articles 16 as they are carried by the corresponding platform 30,as will be explained in greater detail below.

The energizer 14 may be located at any desirable location adjacent tothe conveyor 12 (see also FIG. 3), in some implementations, theenergizer 14 may be coupled to or integrated with the conveyor 12. Asshown in FIGS. 1-3, the energizer 14 is located adjacent to the secondconveyor portion 22. The term energizer 14 should be construed broadlyand may include any suitable energy emitting or transferring device(e.g., to a glass, composite, and/or ceramic article). Examples ofenergy transfer include, but are not limited to radiant orelectro-magnetic energy transfer, conductive energy, electrical energy,chemical energy, etc. and in at least some examples, may be manifestedin the form of heat or heat transfer. For example, the illustratedenergizer 14 is a gas flame burner (e.g., an oxy-propane burner);however, other embodiments are possible (e.g., infrared (IR) heaters,suitable lasers, ultraviolet light elements, etc.). The energizer 14 mayhave multiple energy-emitting locations, for instance, energizer ports40 (FIG. 4). In at least one implementation, the multiple ports 40 arearranged in a two-dimensional array of columns and rows (e.g., 3vertically-oriented columns and 12 horizontally-oriented rows). Thearray is merely one example; it will be appreciated that manyarrangements are possible, and the ports 40 may have varying spatialand/or angular orientations. For example, the array may or may not beplanar. In one implementation, the ports 40 are each angularly orientedtowards the axis A. In another implementation, the ports are arranged orarrangeable in accordance with a shape or a pattern including logos,emblems, text, etc. in yet another implementation, the energizer 14 mayinclude a ribbon burner. The energizer 14 may be both mechanically andelectrically coupled to other devices and/or components. For example, itmay be mechanically coupled to a fuel supply line (not shown). Theenergizer 14 also may be electrically coupled to power and/or controlcircuitry 42 (which may include a processor 44 and memory ornon-transitory computer-readable medium 46). The circuitry 42 (and theprocessor 44 where applicable) may be configured to enable independentcontrol of the ports 40. For example, the processor 44 may beprogrammable (e.g., according to a set of instructions or a programstored on the memory 46).

The energizer 14 may be configured to output varying amounts of heat.For example, in some embodiments, the energizer 14 may provide localizedheat reaching temperatures of 720° C. at the surface of the articles 16.When the energizer 14 is used for color-striking, temperatures at thesurface of the articles 16 may be between 550-720° C.; althoughtemperatures higher and lower than this range may still be utilized.

The apparatus 10 may also include a masking locator 50 to position themask 52 so as to direct or localize energy onto predetermined regions ofthe articles. The mask 52 may be provided with or without an open region54. The mask 52 may include any thermal barrier or structure to inhibitor impair the energizer 14 from raising the temperature of the articles16 (e.g., a barrier to the flames from a gas flame burner) in regionsother than the open region 54. The mask 52 may be made of any suitablematerial that inhibits the energizing of the article in the vicinity ofthe mask 52. Examples of suitable material include ceramics, titanium ortitanium alloys, refractory material(s), insulating material(s) (e.g.,an insulating cloth), etc. In addition, the mask 52 may also be activelycooled; e.g., being coupled to a thermal ground or heat sink, orcirculating a fluid that is relatively cold through hollow portions (notshown) of the mask 52 to dissipate any undesired heat.

The open region 54 may be used as a energizing-template or stencil—forreceiving energy in localized areas that are not otherwise blocked bythe remainder of the mask 52. The open region 54 may be construedbroadly to include regions within the periphery of the mask 52, outsidethe periphery, or both. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the openregion 54 on the mask 52 may include one or more openings 56 a, 56 b, 56c within the periphery (an example being illustrated in FIG. 5). Theopening(s) may define a pattern; e.g., the pattern may include anyindicia, ornamentation, identifier, symbol, brand or logo, text ormessage (having any suitable font styles), emblem, image, or likeness,other graphic elements, or any combination thereof. The open region 54may define commercially desirable patterns, and in at least oneimplementation, the open region 54 may define a trademark, for instance,the “O I” mark shown on the article in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, theone or more openings (e.g., 56 a, 56 b, 56 c, etc.) also may includerandomized patterns and/or shapes.

The masking locator 50 may be implemented in various ways. For example,the masking locator 50 may include a mechanical or electro-mechanicaldevice (which also may be coupled to the conveyor 12) having apositioning member (not separately shown) with the mask 52 located at adistal end. In this implementation, the positioning member may beconfigured to locate or position the mask 52 proximate to one of thearticles 16 and so that the mask 52 is between the article 16 and theenergizer 14. In another embodiment (see FIG. 2), the mask 52 may bedetachably coupled to the positioning member. For example, the mask 52may be a full or partial sleeve and the positioning member may locate orcouple the mask over or around the articles 16 by sliding it thereoverfrom above the conveyor 12 (e.g., an at least semi-cylindrical mask asshown in FIG. 5). Of course, the mask 52 does not have to be curved; itcould also be flat or angular or some combination of curved, flat, orangular. The locator 50 may include a robot, pick and place machine, orany other suitable material handler. These implementations are merelyillustrative, and other implementations will be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art. The use of the mask 52 will be described ingreater detail below.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a number of articles 16 are shown on the conveyor 12.The articles 16 includes containers and dishware and may be of anysuitable shape, and may include jugs, jars, bottles, other food orbeverage containers including bowls, plates, various serving ware, etc.An example of an article 16 may include a base 70 at one axial end uponwhich the article may be supported, a body 72 extending axially from thebase 70, a shoulder 74 extending radially and axially from the body 72,and a neck 76 extending axially from the shoulder 74 to an axial outwardend surface 78. As used herein, the term axial includes orientedgenerally along a longitudinal axis of the closure, article, or packageand may include but is not limited to a direction that is strictlyparallel to a longitudinal central axis B of an article.

The body 72 and neck 76 may be generally cylindrical, or they may betapered or of any other suitable shape. The neck 76 may include one ormore closure retention elements 80 projecting from an external surface82, or the like, for cooperation with corresponding portions of aclosure (not shown). The element(s) 80 may include threads or threadsegments, as illustrated, or bayonet features, snap-fit features, or anyother suitable closure retention features. As used herein, the termthread segment includes whole, partial, multiple, and/or an interruptedthread, thread segment, and/or lug. The exterior surface 82 may includeall outwardly facing surfaces on the base 70, body 72, shoulder 74, andneck 76 (including element(s) 80 and the end surface 78).

The articles 16 may be of one-piece integrally formed construction andmay be made of glass, ceramic, and/or composite construction. (The term“integrally formed construction” does not exclude one-piece integrallymolded layered constructions of the type disclosed for example in U.S.Pat. No. 4,740,401, or one-piece bottles to which other structure isadded after the bottle-forming operation.) In one embodiment, thearticles 16 may be lubricated in press-and-blow or blow-and-blow glassarticle manufacturing operations.

Manufacturing may include glass, ceramic, and/or composite articleproduction process (e.g., in a lehr) followed by localized energizingprocess using the illustrative conveyor 12. Both processes are describedbelow.

For example, in glass article production, manufacturing includes a “hotend” and a “cold end.” The hot end may include one or more glass meltingfurnaces (not shown) to produce a glass melt, one or more formingmachines (not shown) to form the glass melt into articles 16, and one ormore applicators (not shown) to apply a hot-end coating to the articles16. The “hot end” also may include an annealing lehr (not shown), or atleast a beginning portion of the annealing lehr, for annealing thearticles 16 therein. Through the lehr, the temperature may be broughtdown gradually to a downstream portion, cool end, or exit of the lehr.The “cold end” may include an end portion of the annealing lehr,applicators to apply one or more cold-end coatings to the articles 16downstream of the annealing lehr, inspection equipment to inspect thearticles, and packaging machines (not shown) to package the articles.

In conjunction with the above description, the articles 16 may beproduced by the following an article manufacturing process, which may ormay not include all of the disclosed steps or be sequentially processedor processed in the particular sequence discussed, and the presentlydisclosed manufacturing process and marking methods encompass anysequencing, overlap, or parallel processing of such steps.

For example, in a glass article manufacturing process, first, a batch ofglass forming materials may be melted. For example, a melting furnacemay include a tank with melters to melt soda-lime-silica to producemolten glass. Thereafter, the molten glass may flow from the tank,through a throat, and to a refiner at the downstream end of the furnacewhere the molten glass may be conditioned. From the furnace, the moltenglass may be directed toward a downstream forehearth that may include acooling zone, a conditioning zone, and a downstream end in communicationwith a gob feeder. The feeder may measure out gobs of glass and deliverthem to a glass articles forming operation.

Next, the glass gobs may be formed into articles 16, for example, byforming machines, which may include press-and-blow or blow-and-blowindividual section machines, or any other suitable forming equipment.Blank molds may receive the glass gobs from the feeder and form parisonsor blanks, which may be at a temperature, for example, on the order of900-1100° C. Blow molds may receive the blanks from the blank molds andform the blanks into articles 16, which may be at a temperature, forexample, on the order of 700-900° C. Material handling equipment mayremove the articles 16 from the forming machines and place the articleson conveyors or the like.

Also, the formed articles may be annealed, for example, by an annealinglehr. At an entry, hot end, or upstream portion of the annealing lehr,the temperature therein may be, for instance, on the order of 500-700°C. Through the lehr, the temperature may be brought down gradually to adownstream portion, cool end, or exit of the lehr, to a temperaturetherein, for example, on the order of 65-130° C.

In some implementations, after the annealing step, the formed articles16 may be generally or globally color-struck, for instance, while stillin the lehr. As used herein, color-striking should be construed toinclude the application of energy to an article or at least thearticle's surface, e.g., to the surface of the color-strikable articles16, such that the transference or conveyance of the energy chemicallychanges the reflected wavelength(s) of the material (thus, the apparentcolor is changed). Thus, global color-striking includes changing thecolor of the entire article 16; e.g., by indirect application of heat,for instance, in a lehr or furnace. Color-striking may be used to alterthe previous coloration and/or transparency of the articles 16 forvarious reasons including adding aesthetic quality, branding, providingultraviolet (UV) protection, and providing security oranti-counterfeiting features (just to name a few). Depending upon thechemistry employed, a variety of colors may be achieved (e.g., black,red, or any other desirable color).

In some implementations, the color-striking step begins by includingspecial additives in the batch of forming materials. For example, wherearticles 16 are glass, the special additives may be a mixture of latentcolorant materials formulated for use with a plurality of soda-limesilica base glass compositions having reduction-oxidation numbers in therange of −40 to +20. For example, one mixture of latent colorantmaterials includes cuprous oxide (Cu₂O), stannous oxide (SnO), bismuthoxide (Bi₃O₃), and carbon (C), as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/666,629, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety. The color-striking process may include reheating the articles16 according to a predetermined profile and according to a predeterminedtemperature within the lehr (i.e., a second lehr or the previouslydescribed lehr) or within an extension of the previously described lehr.The predetermined temperature(s) may not be hotter than the temperaturesused in the article formation steps. This of course is merely oneimplementation and those having ordinary skill in the art willappreciate other techniques and formulations to color-strike articles16.

Following the article production process, the articles 16 may receivelocalized or selective energizing using the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS.1-3. In some implementations, the localized energizing may color-strikefurther the color-strikable articles 16 (e.g., green glass can be struckto black, blue glass can be struck to red, and other variations; e.g.,under circumstances including the right combination of additives andstriking temperatures). And in other implementations, the localizedenergizing may color-strike the articles 16 for the first time (e.g.,where the article 16 has not been subjected to global color-striking).In any event, in contrast to global or general color striking involvingindirect application of heat or energy, here the color-strikablearticles 16 are energized directly. The selective color-striking mayleave a pattern on the articles; as used herein, the term ‘on’ anarticle includes in the article as well; i.e., the selectivecolor-striking may alter the color of the surface and/or the thicknessof the article material (e.g., the base 70, body 72, shoulder 74, and/orneck 76) in the respective localized area. Similarly, energizing thearticles includes energizing the surface and/or the thickness of thearticle material (e.g., the base 70, body 72, shoulder 74, and/or neck76) in the respective localized area. Furthermore, the selectivecolor-striking also may be performed for various reasons associated withany global color-striking (e.g., adding aesthetic quality, branding,providing ultraviolet (UV) protection, providing security oranti-counterfeiting features, etc.).

The localized energizing process may include the articles 16 beingcarried by the conveying surface 24 of the first conveyor portion 20 anddelivered or in-fed to the second conveyor portion 22 for presentationto the energizer 14. In one implementation, the articles 16 are receivedfrom the cooling end of the lehr by the first conveyor portion 20 (i.e.,the localized energizing may not occur within the lehr). Regardless, thearticles 16 are spaced at a distance S along the first conveyor portion20. As the second conveyor portion rotates, the articles 16 may bereceived onto the staging platforms 30 of the lower member 26 and intothe corresponding notches 34 of the star wheel 28. The staging platforms30 and the notches 34 individually may guide the articles 16 towards theenergizer 14. The linear speed of the first conveyor portion 20 maycorrespond to the angular speed of the second conveyor portion 22 sothat the articles 16 are delivered from the first conveyor portion 20 tothe second conveyor portion 22 without disturbance or interruption. Inaddition, as will be discussed below, the speed of the conveyor portions20, 22 may be one means of controlling the duration of energizing by theenergizer 14.

Once the articles 16 are located on one of the staging platforms 30, therotating second conveyor portion 22 may present the articles 16 to theenergizer 14 to receive energy therefrom. In at least oneimplementation, the energizing may color-strike the article 16. Theexposure duration of the energizing may depend at least partially uponthe rotational speed of the second conveyor portion 22. Persons ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the duration of theapplied energy may affect the colors produced during color-striking.Thus, the second conveyor portion 22 may be configured to rotate at aspeed to produce the desired color or pattern, e.g., in accordance withthe magnitude of the energy received from the energizer 14 and theduration of exposure to the applied energy. In some implementations, theenergizer ports 40 of the energizer 14 may actuate ON and/or OFFaccording to a predetermined scheme or pattern. For example, the rowsmay sequentially actuate ON from the top to the bottom or vice-versasuch that as each row is actuated ON, it remains ON while treating thatparticular article 16. Such a pattern may color-strike a gradientpattern in the article. In another example, every other row (or everythird row, etc.) may actuate ON for each passing article color-strikinga horizontally striped or isolated banded pattern. In anotherimplementation, the ports 40 may actuate ON and OFF in a pulsing orpulsating manner to create various image interrupted patterns or controlthe temperature of the article material (e.g., according to a dutycycle). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the numerouspatterns and schemes that may be achieved by manipulating andcontrolling the ON and OFF actuation of the multiple energizer ports 40as each article passes thereby.

In another implementation, the energizer 14 may move relative to thesecond conveyor portion 22—i.e., it may move axially, radially, and/orcircumferentially with respect to axis A to apply energy to each article16 that passes thereby. For example, the energizer 14 may be configuredto move circumferentially at the same or different rate or angular speedof the second conveyor portion 22 applying localized energy to onearticle, and then move to the next article repeating the configuredprocess. A robot, a machine slide, or any other suitable handlingequipment may be used to move the energizer 14.

In another implementation, the staging platforms 30 may rotate. Thus,the second conveyor portion 22 may present the individual articles 16 tothe energizer 14 as the articles 16 are rotated according to therotational speed and direction of the platforms 30. In at least oneimplementation, the second conveyor portion 22 may rotate according to astop/go sequence; e.g., the second conveyor portion 22 may rotatethereby locating the articles 16 in proximity to the energizer 14 andthen may stop while the staging platform 30 begins to rotate therebyexposing part of or the entire circumference of the article 16 to theenergy from the energizer 14 (e.g., to color-strike a banded pattern onthe article 16).

The embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 shows both the first conveyor portion. 20 asa linear conveyor and the second conveyor portion 22 as a rotaryconveyor; however, this is merely illustrative. The apparatus 10 mayinclude one or more linear conveyors, one or more rotary conveyors, oneor more serpentine conveyors, or any combination thereof.

In another implementation, the masking locator 50 may locate the mask 52between the articles 16 and the applied energy of the energizer 14, andin some cases, the mask 52 may also be adjacent to the article 16. Themask 52 may conform at least partially and generally to the externalsurface 82 of the article. For example, the mask 52 may have acylinder-shape (see FIG. 5) and be sized to receive the body 72 of thearticle 16. For example, the articles 16 may be presented to theenergizer 14 via the second conveyor portion 22, the mask 52 may belocated therebetween, and the energizer port(s) 40 may be actuated. Inother implementations, detachable masks 52 may be located on thearticles 16 prior to presentation to the energizers 14 and/or prior toreceipt by the first or second conveyor portions 20, 22.

In another implementation, the apparatus 10 may have multiple energizers14 located near the conveyor 12. In at least one implementation, themultiple energizers 14 may slaved to a single controller 44.

In another implementation, the mask 52 of the apparatus 10 may befixedly or detachably coupled to the energizer 14 to selectivelyobstruct one or more ports 40 thereat. Or in another implementation, themask 52 of the apparatus 10 may be fixedly or detachably coupled to thesecond conveyor portion 22.

It should be appreciated that the various described implementations aremerely illustrative and that the various implementations may be used incombination.

After the localized energizing has been applied to the article 16, themasking locator 50 then may remove the mask 52 from the proximity of thearticle 16. Lastly, the article may be discharged to the first conveyor20 portion again.

While the energizing process has been described with respect to aconveyor having first and second conveyor portions 20, 22, other meansof conveyance are possible. In addition, the aforedescribed energizinghas pertained to color-striking to color-strikable articles. Thus, thelocalized energizing may be performed for any suitable purpose oncontainers, dishware, etc. being composed of any suitable material.

In addition, the use of the mask 52 and the programmability of theenergizer 14 may provide greater control of the application of energy tothe articles 16 and minimize the amount of unused energy (e.g., energytypically associated with use of a lehr).

It should be appreciated that the processor 44 can be any type of devicecapable of processing electronic instructions including microprocessors,microcontrollers, host processors, controllers, and application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs). It can be a dedicated processor used onlyfor the energizer 14 or can be shared with other manufacturing machines.Processor 44 may execute various types of digitally-stored instructions,such as software or firmware programs stored in memory 46. For instance,processor 44 can execute programs or process data to carry out at leasta part of the method discussed herein.

There thus has been disclosed methods of manufacturing, heat-treating,and selectively energizing (e.g., color-striking) glass, composite,and/or ceramic articles, that fully satisfy all of the objects and aimspreviously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunctionwith several illustrative embodiments, and additional modifications andvariations have been discussed. Other modifications and variationsreadily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the artin view of the foregoing discussion. For example, the presentlydisclosed articles and methods have been discussed in terms of a glassarticle manufacturing process, but the disclosure likewise may apply toother articles and article manufacturing composed of metal, plastic, andother ceramics. The disclosure is intended to embrace all suchmodifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for striking color incolor-strikable glass or ceramic articles, which includes: a conveyorfor presenting color-strikable glass or ceramic containers in sequence;an energizer positioned adjacent to said conveyor for direct selectiveenergizing of said containers to strike at least one color therein asthe containers are presented by the conveyor, wherein a mask ispositioned between said energizer and said containers, wherein the maskincludes an open region, wherein said open region is defined by apattern, wherein the pattern includes at least one of an indicia, anornamentation, an identifier, a symbol, a brand, a logo, text or amessage, an emblem, an image, or a likeness, wherein the energizer is agas-fired burner comprising a plurality of flame ports; a controllerconfigured to selectively control the plurality of flame ports; and anon-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructionsexecutable by said controller to provide independent control of one ormore flame ports of said plurality of flame ports of said energizeraccording to a predetermined pattern.
 2. The apparatus set forth inclaim 1 including a masking locator for positioning the mask betweensaid energizer and said containers.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim1 wherein, during direct energizing, said mask is located adjacent saidcontainer or said energizer.
 4. The apparatus set for in claim 1 whereinsaid conveyor has at least one staging platform for carrying a singlecontainer and rotating said container thereon along its longitudinalaxis in proximity of said energizer.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim1 wherein said conveyor includes at least one of a linear conveyor, arotary conveyor, or a serpentine conveyor.
 6. The apparatus set forth inclaim 1 wherein the energizer is located outside of a lehr.
 7. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the energizer is adapted toprovide localized heat from at least some of the plurality of flameports to said container at a temperature within a range of 550-720° C.8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the energizer comprises anoxy-propane burner.
 9. An apparatus for striking color incolor-strikable glass or ceramic articles, which includes: a conveyorfor presenting color-strikable glass or ceramic containers in sequence;an energizer positioned adjacent to said conveyor for direct selectiveenergizing of said containers to strike at least one color therein asthe containers are presented by the conveyor, said energizer including aplurality of energy-emitting locations; a controller configured toselectively control the plurality of energy emitting locations; and anon-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructionsexecutable by said controller to provide independent control of one ormore energy-emitting locations of said plurality of energy-emittinglocations of said energizer according to a predetermined patternincluding at least one of an indicia, an ornamentation, an identifier, asymbol, a brand, a logo, text or a message, an emblem, an image, or alikeness.
 10. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 further including amask positioned between said energizer and said containers, wherein themask includes an open region defined by a pattern.
 11. The apparatus setforth in claim 10 wherein, during direct energizing, said mask islocated adjacent said container or said energizer.
 12. The apparatus setforth in claim 10 including a masking locator for positioning the maskbetween said energizer and said containers.
 13. The apparatus set forthin claim 9 wherein said plurality of energy-emitting locations of saidenergizer are arranged in said predetermined pattern.
 14. The apparatusset for in claim 9 wherein said conveyor has at least one stagingplatform for carrying a single container and rotating said containerthereon along its longitudinal axis in proximity of said energizer. 15.The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said conveyor includes atleast one of a linear conveyor, a rotary conveyor, or a serpentineconveyor.
 16. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein the energizeris located outside of a lehr.
 17. The apparatus set forth in claim 9wherein the energizer is adapted to provide localized heat from at leastsome of the energy-emitting locations to said container at a temperaturewithin a range of 550-720° C.
 18. The apparatus set forth in claim 9wherein the energizer comprises an oxy-propane burner.